U.S. patent application number 12/854486 was filed with the patent office on 2010-12-02 for medical storage case with remote unlocking refrigerator with thermal spoilage protection.
This patent application is currently assigned to S&S X-Ray Products, Inc.. Invention is credited to Norman A. Shoenfeld, Fred H. Sopenoff.
Application Number | 20100300130 12/854486 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43218664 |
Filed Date | 2010-12-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100300130 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shoenfeld; Norman A. ; et
al. |
December 2, 2010 |
Medical Storage Case with Remote Unlocking Refrigerator with
thermal Spoilage Protection
Abstract
A controlled access pharmaceutical storage case has storage
spaces arranged vertically one above the other and a pharmaceutical
refrigerator located at its base. A remotely actuable refrigerator
door lock on the refrigerator door has a data port connecting with
a programmed electronic control arrangement, e.g., a computer or
network. The refrigerator has a compressor at the top of the case
that operates on line AC or on battery DC backup power. A battery
backup arrangement is located at the top of the case. When AC is
detected to be absent or insufficient, i.e., during general or
localized power failure, the refrigerator operates on battery, and
the door lock is prevented from unlocking. Internal temperature and
humidity levels are tracked and sent at intervals to a
predetermined destination for action.
Inventors: |
Shoenfeld; Norman A.;
(Livingston, NJ) ; Sopenoff; Fred H.; (Magnolia,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BERNHARD P. MOLLDREM, JR.
224 HARRISON STREET, SUITE 200
SYRACUSE
NY
13202
US
|
Assignee: |
S&S X-Ray Products,
Inc.
|
Family ID: |
43218664 |
Appl. No.: |
12/854486 |
Filed: |
August 11, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12470541 |
May 22, 2009 |
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12854486 |
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11391986 |
Mar 29, 2006 |
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12470541 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
62/129 ;
62/176.6; 62/236 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M 5/44 20130101; E05B
2047/0094 20130101; G07F 17/0092 20130101; F25D 2700/12 20130101;
F25D 2700/02 20130101; A61B 50/10 20160201; A61M 2205/3561
20130101; E05B 47/00 20130101; F25D 29/00 20130101; G07C 9/00896
20130101; G07C 9/00912 20130101; A61M 2205/3592 20130101; A61M
2205/60 20130101; E05B 2047/0086 20130101; G07C 2209/62 20130101;
A61M 2205/3606 20130101; E05B 65/0042 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/129 ; 62/236;
62/176.6 |
International
Class: |
F25B 49/00 20060101
F25B049/00; F25B 27/00 20060101 F25B027/00; F25B 49/02 20060101
F25B049/02 |
Claims
1. A controlled access pharmaceutical storage case comprising a
frame having a base and a top, a plurality of storage spaces within
said frame arranged vertically one above the other; and a
pharmaceutical refrigerator located in said frame on said base, and
including a refrigerator cabinet and a door that closes against the
refrigerator cabinet; a remotely actuable refrigerator door lock
for locking and unlocking the refrigerator door including a data
port connecting with a programmed electronic control arrangement; a
refrigeration circuit that includes a compressor mounted at the top
of the storage case and having a pressure port and a suction port,
a condenser coil coupled to said pressure port and leading to an
expansion valve, followed by an evaporator coil within the
refrigerator cabinet and being connected with the suction port of
the compressor; wherein said compressor is adapted to be operable
when powered by standard AC line power or when powered by DC
battery power; AC power cables coupled to a source of said standard
AC line power; a storage battery arrangement providing DC battery
power to said compressor and to said electronic control
arrangement; charging means coupled to said AC power cables for
supplying charging power to said storage battery arrangement; power
sensor means coupled with said AC power cables and said storage
battery arrangement for sensing whether AC power is present and
coupling the compressor to the AC power cables when AC power is
present but connecting the compressor to the storage battery
arrangement when AC power is absent; said power sensor means being
coupled to a data input of said electronic control arrangement;
said computer arrangement having an unlock facility operative for
receiving unlock commands specific to the refrigerator door lock,
and unlatch the refrigerator door lock upon receipt of said unlock
command to permit authorized hospital personnel access to the
contents of the refrigerator, but operative to disable said unlock
facility and prevent access to the contents of the refrigerator if
the power sensor means detects that the AC power is absent for a
period of time that exceeds a predetermined time interval.
2. Controlled access pharmaceutical cabinet of claim 1 wherein said
storage battery and said charging means are disposed at the top of
said storage case.
3. Controlled access pharmaceutical cabinet of claim 1 wherein said
programmed control arrangement is adapted to generate and transmit
an alert message to a predetermined addressee in the event that
said AC power is absent for longer than a predetermined time
interval.
4. Controlled access pharmaceutical cabinet of claim 1 in which
said refrigerator lock includes a key lock cylinder permitting
override access for allowing supervisory personnel to open the
pharmaceutical refrigerator during absence of said AC power.
5. Controlled access pharmaceutical cabinet of claim 1 further
comprising a temperature monitor having a probe sensing temperature
inside said refrigerator cabinet, the temperature monitor being
coupled with said programmed control arrangement to transmit the
sensed temperature thereto; and wherein said control arrangement is
operative to store at least one predetermined temperature limit,
and to compare the sensed temperature with said at least one
predetermined temperature limit, and is operative to disable said
unlock facility if the sensed temperature is outside said
predetermined temperature limit so that the refrigerator door lock
is prevented from being unlocked remotely.
6. Controlled access pharmaceutical cabinet of claim 5 further
including means for communicating a temperature alarm to said
remote computer system when the sensed temperature is beyond said
limit.
7. Controlled access pharmaceutical cabinet of claim 1 wherein said
programmed control arrangement is adapted to generate and transmit
an alert message to a predetermined addressee in the event that the
power sensor means detects that the AC power is absent.
8. Controlled access pharmaceutical cabinet of claim 7 further
comprising a humidity sensor positioned within said refrigerator
cabinet and being coupled with said programmed circuit arrangement
to transmit a sensed humidity thereto; and wherein the programmed
circuit arrangement is operative to store at least one
predetermined humidity limit, and to compare the sensed humidity
from said humidity sensor with said at least one predetermined
humidity limit, and is operative to disable said unlock facility if
the sensed humidity is outside said predetermined humidity limit so
that the refrigerator door lock is prevented from being
unlocked.
9. Controlled access pharmaceutical cabinet of claim 1 wherein said
control arrangement includes audit trail software for recording
each time of opening of the refrigerator door lock and also
recording identity of each requesting person associated with such
openings of the refrigerator door lock.
Description
[0001] This is a Continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/470,541, filed May 22, 2009, which is a
Continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
11/391,986, filed Mar. 29, 2006, now abandoned. Applicant also
claims priority of co-pending applications Ser. No. 11/653,726,
Jan. 16, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,728,711, and Ser. No.
11/800,937, May 8, 2007, pending. The contents thereof are
incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to an electronically accessible
locked storage cabinet for storing consumable items for patient
care, such as pharmaceuticals. The invention is more particularly
concerned with a storage cabinet or case that incorporates a
pharmaceutical refrigerator for storing certain sensitive drugs
that are considered perishable and need to be kept refrigerated and
not exposed to temperatures outside an optimal temperature range.
The invention is also directed to a cabinet with an incorporated
refrigerator that connects to a remote computer system, e.g., in a
hospital or health care facility, to secure pharmaceuticals that
need to be refrigerated, and which has a provision for maintaining
the pharmaceuticals under refrigeration in the event of a power
failure. The system may also adapted for keeping an audit trail of
access to the refrigerator.
[0003] In general, pharmaceuticals and other patient care supplies
such as bandages, injectable IV solutions, and the like, are
delivered to patients when needed, and those that need to be kept
refrigerated are stored in a refrigerator in the pharmacy of the
hospital or other facility. However, those drugs that need
refrigeration cannot simply be stored in a conventional secured
room-temperature dispensing cabinet, but have to be kept in a
refrigerator until needed. Any record of access to the refrigerator
would have to be maintained on a paper record, or by separately
keying in information on separate computer work station. There is
also no means provided to ensure that the refrigerator is kept
locked, to alarm if the refrigerator is left open or unlocked, or
to monitor the refrigerator's operating temperature or the humidity
within the refrigerator cabinet.
[0004] An additional problem is that many pharmaceuticals,
including many used for oncology, are of extreme high value, and
that the value of the drugs contained in a single pharmaceutical
refrigerator may exceed two-hundred and fifty thousand dollars. In
that case, a power failure to the refrigerator may result in a
devastating financial loss to the hospital or other health care
institution. Because of holiday staffing during long weekend
periods, the status of a given pharmaceutical refrigerator may be
unknown, and this risk from a power failure can be quite
significant.
[0005] There is a pressing need to protect the integrity of
refrigerated medications, including vaccinations and oncology
medications, and to keep "suspect" medications out of the supply
chain where patient harm can result. The health care system must
protect patients from risk of harm.
[0006] Real-time temperature monitoring, with some alarm
capability, does exist. However, because the rise in temperature
can occur before pharmacy personnel can take action to halt
distribution or to salvage the high-value pharmaceuticals, there is
still a large risk that the medications may become unsafe and not
usable, and that some may be administered to patients.
[0007] It would be desirable to employ a refrigerator as a part of
the medications cabinet, arranged in the same footprint, as floor
space in the hospital is always quite limited. Then prescribed
medications, both those that require refrigeration and those that
do not, can be loaded by pharmacy staff and stored securely until
administered. It is also desirable to track access automatically
for the non-refrigerated and refrigerated cabinet, and which can be
accessed by the pharmacy staff electronically (e.g., using RFID,
bar code, or wireless means). It is also desirable to ensure that
the refrigerated cabinet is kept secure, and that the operating
temperature is sufficiently cool even in the event of power
failure. However, systems that are currently available cannot carry
out all these functions.
[0008] It is also desirable to integrate the refrigerator lock with
the continuous monitoring of the internal temperature (and/or
humidity) of the refrigerator, and to take steps to prevent
materials from being distributed from the refrigerator if
conditions indicate that the contents may potentially be
compromised. The software associated with the refrigerator should
be able to lock out or disable the unlock function for normal users
(i.e., staff) but still permit over-ride unlock capability for a
"master" user, e.g., pharmacy director.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a pharmaceutical cabinet with storage compartments or
drawers for non-refrigerated drugs and other items, to provide
refrigerated storage for temperature sensitive materials.
[0010] It is an important object to protect patients from harm by
keeping suspect refrigerated medications out of the supply
chain.
[0011] It is a further object to provide a cabinet and incorporated
refrigerator with remotely actuated door lock and with a power back
up that permits the refrigerator to continue to function in the
event of a power failure.
[0012] Another object is to provide an electronic door lock
mechanism with key-lock override that can be used, e.g., during a
power outage, to obtain access to the medications kept in the
refrigerator.
[0013] A further object is real-time temperature monitoring,
minute-by-minute, and maintenance of a real-time log, which can be
available over a computer network, as well as notification of power
interruptions which may exceed some threshold, such as five
minutes.
[0014] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a
controlled access pharmaceutical storage case has a vertical frame
having a base and a top, with a number of storage spaces, i.e.
compartments and drawers, arranged vertically one above the other.
At the lower end, or base, a pharmaceutical refrigerator is
installed in the frame. The pharmaceutical refrigerator has a
cabinet, a door that closes against the cabinet. A remotely
actuable refrigerator door lock, i.e., solenoid lock, allows
authorized hospital personnel to open the refrigerator door.
Typically, the door lock has a data port that connects with a
programmed electronic control arrangement (such as a hospital PC
computer device that is incorporated into the cabinet). The
refrigerator employs a refrigerant circuit. A compressor is mounted
at the top of the storage case and has a pressure port or discharge
port, and a suction port or return port. The compressed refrigerant
gas is supplied from the pressure port to a condenser coil. Then
high-pressure liquid passes through an expansion valve to an
evaporator coil situated within the refrigerator cabinet. Then
another conduit brings the low pressure gas from the evaporator
coil back to the compressor suction port.
[0015] In the embodiments of this invention, the compressor is
adapted to operate either with standard AC line power (i.e., 110
volts/60 Hz) or with DC battery power (i.e., 12 volts). There are
standard AC power cables that can connect to a wall outlet or
similar a source of standard AC line power, and there are also a
battery back-up system(s) that serves the refrigerator compressor
and the incorporated PC computer. The battery back-up system(s) can
be situated at the top of the cabinet near the compressor. The
battery back up can include a 12-volt storage battery or batteries
(at suitable voltage) for providing DC battery power to the
compressor (and/or to the control electronics), as well as a
trickle charger or similar charging mechanism coupled to the AC
power cables for supplying charging power to the storage battery
arrangement. A power sensor detects whether there is AC power
available, and if so then the compressor is switched to the AC
power and operates on normal line power. If it detects that there
is no AC power available, which would mean that a power outage is
occurring, or that the unit has become unplugged from the wall
outlet, then the compressor is switched over to the 12 volt storage
battery, and continues to operate. The power sensor means is
coupled to a data input of the PC or elsewhere in the control
electronics, so that an alert can be sent to a predetermined
destination. The software for this may send out the alert
immediately, or may send it out if the power outage continues
beyond some interval, i.e., more than five minutes. Normally, the
computer or control electronics is receptive to unlock commands
specific to the refrigerator door lock, so that the hospital care
staff can access the patient's medications. Thus, during normal
power conditions, where the AC line power is available, the
authorized staff can unlatch and open the refrigerator door lock
with an access code. However, during a power outage, when the
refrigerator is powered only by the 12 volts storage battery, the
unlock facility is disabled, and the staff are prevented from
accessing the contents of the refrigerator. The refrigerator can
still be opened by a supervisory person with "master" access, which
may be a physical key or may be a special access code. This feature
keeps the refrigerator closed during the power outage (if it
exceeds more than a few minutes), to minimize the risk of
temperature spoilage of the refrigerator contents, and to avoid
distributing or releasing suspect medications to the patient
population.
[0016] Favorably, the PC has its own backup or UPS system, so as
not to drain off the refrigeration battery during a power failure.
The PC UPS needs to be ON long enough (at a minimum) to send an
email notifying the pharmacist that there is a power issue, and
preferably with a tracking of temperature curve over a longer
interval. For this reason it is preferred to keep the refrigeration
back-up battery and PC back-up battery separate.
[0017] In one preferred embodiment, the refrigerator lock includes
a key lock cylinder permitting override access for allowing
supervisory (i.e., pharmacy) personnel to open the pharmaceutical
refrigerator during absence of said AC power. The lock can be
maintained in a disabled state after resumption of AC power, if
there has been a possible temperature compromise.
[0018] A temperature probe that senses temperature inside said
refrigerator cabinet is coupled with control electronics, and the
latter is operative to store at least one predetermined temperature
limit, or upper and lower limits. The sensed temperature is
compared with the stored temperature limit(s), and is operative to
disable the refrigerator unlock facility if the sensed temperature
is beyond the limit(s), so that the staff is denied normal access
if the temperature has been beyond the acceptable range for longer
than some maximum time. The temperature is tracked, minute by
minute, and a real-time log is maintained and is made available,
e.g. to pharmacy staff, either via the hospital computer network or
over the Internet. Alarm message are sent out when a temperature
alarm condition is reached, and also when there is a power outage.
In some embodiments, a humidity sensor positioned in the
refrigerator cabinet sends a sensed humidity signal to the control
electronics, where it is compared with stored humidity threshold
values. Then the unlock facility can be disabled if the sensed
humidity is outside predetermined humidity limits so that the
refrigerator door lock is prevented from being unlocked. Audit
trail software can recording each time of opening of the
refrigerator door lock and can also record the identity of each
requesting person associated with such openings of the refrigerator
door lock.
[0019] The cabinet PC computer may use the same storage battery
arrangement as is used for powering the compressor during a power
outage, or more preferably a separate UPS device is used for the
computer.
[0020] The pharmacy staff or other person responsible for the
refrigerated cabinet can monitor the temperature remotely for each
individual patient pharmaceutical storage cabinet, using the
temperature and power outage logs that are available over the
computer network or over the Internet. This allows the staff to
make decisions about recovery of pharmaceuticals from the
refrigerated storage cabinets, and allows them to set priorities
for recovery, resupply, and for disposal, if necessary, of possibly
compromised materials.
[0021] Similar refrigerator or temperature controlled cabinets may
be used in the radiology laboratory for controlled storage of items
such as radiology contrast materials of or other
temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals. Also, the refrigerator may
be used for storage of certain sensitive food products, where the
patient has a prescribed dietary routine.
[0022] The above and many other objects, features, and advantages
of this invention will become apparent from the ensuing description
of a selected preferred embodiment, which is to be considered in
connection with the accompanying Drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a medications cabinet with
incorporated pharmaceutical refrigerator, according to one
preferred embodiment of this invention.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the
embodiment.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining this embodiment
of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0026] A preferred embodiment of this medications cabinet can be
favorably applied in a satellite pharmacy (on the patient hospital
floor). In addition, the mechanism can be used to control drug
monitoring in any location where temperature sensitive/humidity
sensitive pharmaceuticals are stored. Anytime there is a problem,
the PC and remote lock, powered by an uninterruptible power supply,
can send a text message to the facility director to notify him that
there is an issue, in time to deal with the problem and before the
need arises to simply dispose of a large quantity of expensive
medications. Inventory of the pharmaceutical cabinet can be
automatically tracked and reported to the pharmacist, so that
refill can be scheduled in a convenient manner.
[0027] With reference to the Drawing, and initially to FIGS. 1 and
2, a medication dispensing arrangement in a hospital pharmacy or
pharmacy of other health care facility employs a dispensing cabinet
10, for storage and controlled access to medications and
pharmaceuticals, some of which may need to be kept refrigerated.
The cabinet shown here is a floor mounted medications cabinet 10,
although other cabinets could be mounted on the wall of the patient
room. The purpose of the medications cabinet 10 is to provide
controlled access to non-refrigerated medications in one or more
computer locked drawers or to refrigerated medications in an
included refrigerator.
[0028] The cabinet 10 has a vertically arranged frame 12 which
extends upward from a base 14 to a top 16, and has a number of
locking compartments 18 as well as a locking drawer 20, in which
medical supplies, medications, dressings, etc, can be stored for
use with a patient. A medical refrigerator 22 is built into the
cabinet, here between the base 14 and the lowermost locking drawer
20. The refrigerator 22 has an insulated cabinet 24 built into the
frame 12, and has a front door 26 that closes off the front of the
refrigerator cabinet 24. Here the door 26 is hinged at the left and
opens from the right, but the unit could be arranged otherwise. As
shown in FIG. 2, the refrigerator cabinet 24 can be provided with a
number of shelves for storing the refrigerated materials.
[0029] The refrigerator 22 is provided with a door lock 30, which
can be of the general type described in Shoenfeld published
application US 2009/0231132. Here the door lock 30 has a body
portion 32 (shown in broken line) built into the right front post
of the cabinet frame 12, and a door portion 34 (also shown in
broken line) that is built into one edge of the refrigerator door
26. The door lock body portion 32 has a solenoid and controlling
electronics to permit remote actuation, e.g. via a network such as
the hospital LAN. The door lock 30 releases the refrigerator door
26 by actuation of a solenoid. Also, the door portion 34 may have a
key lock 36 to permit access in the event of a lockdown event, such
as AC power loss. Presumably, only a person with master access,
e.g., pharmacy director, would be provided with a key.
[0030] The cabinet itself has solenoid locks with momentary contact
switches built into the right front post support of the cabinet
frame. There are three such locks here, one each for the doors for
the two compartments 18 and one for the refrigerator door 26.
[0031] In this embodiment, the cabinet 10 is provided with a
personal computer 40, with keyboard, screen, and other interactive
devices, and this interconnects with controls for the refrigerator
door lock 30 as well as locking devices for the compartments and
drawers 18 and 20. The computer 40, shown here supported on a shelf
42 at one side of the cabinet frame 12, is suitably programmed to
recognize access codes from authorized persons, and to generate
unlock signal(s) for the refrigerator lock and other cabinet locks.
In other embodiments an associated touch-screen computer can be
employed for the authorized health care provider to enter an
authorization code to achieve access to the cabinet drawer(s) and
refrigerator. The same personal computer or touch screen computer
may communicate via the hospital LAN to generate and send alert
messages, and to track activity involving the cabinet and keep an
audit trail of times of opening and closing of the refrigerator
22.
[0032] The door lock assembly 30 may be directly connected with the
LAN or network. The body portion 32 of the refrigerator lock 30
contain an electronics circuit board with an ethernet port or USB
port and suitably programmed controller microprocessor, which can
be programmed to accept and/or transmit self-descriptive command
data packets, so that the hospital computer system will assign each
refrigerator lock assembly a unique identifier code. A customized
USB driver engineered specifically for this refrigerator lock can
also be uploaded onto the hospital server. A similar system is
employed when ethernet or other network system is employed. A
microprocessor that is included on the refrigerator door lock is
programmed to open the refrigerator lock remotely when an unlock
code is received. The microprocessor may also be programmed with a
predetermined temperature limit, i.e., a high temperature limit, a
low temperature limit, or both, which can be set by pharmacy
personnel. A humidity limit can also be set and programmed into the
microprocessor. In the event that there is a temperature event (or
humidity event) detected, i.e., the temperature in the interior of
the refrigerator cabinet is outside the temperature limit (or
alternatively the temperature remains outside the limit for some
period of time), the microprocessor will automatically block the
facility for remote opening of the lock. The microprocessor also
includes a facility for generating an alert message if a
temperature event of that type occurs (or if the detected humidity
is too high or too low). The alert message will identify the
refrigerator and the nature of the problem, and will automatically
be transmitted (as an email or text message) to a predetermined
addressee (or addressees), and sent over the hospital computer
network.
[0033] Also shown here are a temperature sensor 44 and a relative
humidity sensor 45 that are positioned in the interior of the
refrigerator cabinet 24 and connected by wire to the circuit board
of the refrigerator lock. A proximity sensor or microswitch is
disposed at or adjacent the refrigerator door 26, and is coupled to
the circuit board to provide an indication of the open/closed
status of the door 26, which can then be communicated via the cable
and LAN to the hospital computer system. The system can be
programmed to alert the pharmacy personnel if one of the
refrigerators fails to maintain a sufficiently cool interior
temperature. This may be done by transmission of a text message or
electronic mail automatically generated by the microprocessor of
the circuit board.
[0034] Here, the refrigerator 22 has a refrigeration circuit 50
that is capable of operating either on standard AC mains power
(e.g., 110 volts, 60 Hz) or on DC backup power (e.g., 12 volts
DC).
[0035] The refrigeration circuit 50 has a compressor unit 52 that
is favorably mounted on the top 14 of the cabinet. The compressor
52 has a pressure port P supplying high-pressure gas and a suction
port S receiving low-pressure vapor. The pressure port P of the
compressor leads to a condenser coil 54, where the refrigerant
condenses to high pressure liquid, which passes through an
expansion valve 56 to an evaporator coil 58 that is positioned
inside the refrigerator cabinet 24. There, the liquid evaporates at
low pressure, and is returned to the suction port S of the
compressor. A battery back up system 60, e.g., a so-called
uninterruptible power supply or UPS, is located at the top 14 of
the cabinet 10. Preferably, there is a separate UPS device 60a
(FIG. 1) for the computer 40. The back up system 60 contains a
storage battery 62 and a trickle charger 64. The latter has inputs
connected with AC power cable 70 for recharging the battery from
the standard AC line power. Power cables from the 12 volt storage
battery 62 and the AC power cable 70 are coupled with a switching
mechanism 66, which applies AC power to the compressor when
available, but switches to battery power when the AC power is not
present, i.e., during a power outage, or in the event that someone
inadvertently unplugs or damages the cabinets's power cord. A
sensor 68 detects whether the AC power is present. This sensor 68
is also connected to a data input of the computer 40, so the latter
can send an alert message to predetermined addressees in the event
the AC power disappears and the unit switches over to DC backup
power. The switching mechanism 66 and sensor 68 may also be
operative to switch over to battery power if low AC line voltage
conditions (i.e., "brown out" conditions) are detected.
[0036] Preferably, the UPS or back up battery power is also
furnished to the computer 40 so that it remains operative during a
power failure.
[0037] As shown, e.g., in FIG. 2, the refrigerator 22 has a
temperature control 72 for setting the internal temperature. This
may include the humidity sensor 45 and a temperature sensor 44
(FIG. 3) which may be coupled to data input(s) of the computer
40.
[0038] This permits the computer 40 to continuously monitor
temperature and humidity conditions in the interior of the
refrigerator. As long as the temperature and humidity are within
limits (established by presets loaded onto the computer 40), i.e.,
if the temperature and humidity are in the acceptable ranges,
normal access is available. If not, the normal refrigerator unlock
feature is disabled and an alert message is sent electronically,
e.g., through the hospital network.
[0039] Once a temperature condition (or humidity condition) occurs
such that the refrigerator contents are potentially compromised,
the staff will be unable to open the refrigerator and access the
possibly-compromised materials. This means that the potentially
compromised drugs will not be distributed. However, the pharmacy
director (who has been alerted to this situation by electronic
message) can access the refrigerator lock by key, and can retrieve
the contaminated or potentially compromised drugs. The pharmacy
personnel can then replace those drugs with fresh ones, and reset
the refrigerator lock to open normally.
[0040] In the event that AC power is lost, the compressor 52 will
automatically switch over to battery power, and will continue to
run the refrigeration circuit to keep the contents cool in the
interior of the refrigerator cabinet. The loss of AC power is
detected and sent to the computer 40, which then disables the
unlock facility for the refrigerator door lock 30. Consequently,
during the time that the refrigerator is operating on battery
backup, the staff will not be able to open the refrigerator door.
This conserves the cold air within the unit, and reduces the chance
that the contents will become compromised due to elevated
temperatures. At the same time, the pharmacy personnel are alerted
to the power failure, and are provided with minute-by-minute
temperature and humidity status. The pharmacy director may
authorize release of the door lock if the pharmaceuticals are still
uncompromised and are immediately needed for patient use. This
allows the pharmacy staff to plan to recover some of the
temperature sensitive drugs from the cabinet(s) 10, as need be, and
to set a priorities for recovery. The authorized pharmacy personnel
can be provided either with key access or with a master override
code.
[0041] While the invention has been described hereinabove with
reference to selected preferred embodiments, it should be
recognized that the invention is not limited to those precise
embodiments. Rather, many modification and variations would present
themselves to persons skilled in the art without departing from the
scope and spirit of this invention, as defined in the appended
claims.
* * * * *